Data Logger Encoding for Memory-Constrained Temperature Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data loggers for monitoring temperature-sensitive products, such as medications, face inefficiencies in memory usage due to cost constraints, leading to high costs for long-term storage monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A data logger with a sampling and encoding subsystem that adjusts sampling intervals based on temperature stability, using a counter to group stable samples and store them efficiently, along with a wireless interface for data retrieval, minimizing memory usage and enabling cost-effective long-term monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the memory size is reduced to lower costs, then the device cost decreases, but the monitoring duration is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple temperature samples into a single data record by grouping successive samples that fall within a predefined temperature range. This merging approach allows multiple measurements to be stored in one memory location, effectively extending the monitoring duration without increasing memory size or device cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the storage parameter from individual sample values to grouped data records containing multiple samples. By transforming the data structure and using differential encoding (storing only changes from previous records), the system achieves longer monitoring duration with limited memory while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
2Measurement precision
If the sampling rate is increased to capture more temperature variations, then the measurement precision improves, but the memory usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple successive temperature samples into single data records when the temperature remains within an acceptable range. This combining strategy maintains measurement precision by capturing temperature variations while reducing memory usage by storing only significant changes rather than every individual sample.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial sampling by not storing every temperature sample but only those that represent meaningful changes. By using a threshold-based approach to determine when to create new data records, the system achieves adequate monitoring precision without the memory overhead of storing all samples.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the memory size is increased to extend monitoring duration, then the monitoring duration increases, but the device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple temperature samples into consolidated data records, allowing extended monitoring duration to be achieved with limited memory capacity. This merging strategy enables cost-effective devices to monitor temperatures over longer periods without requiring expensive large-capacity memory.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the data storage parameter from raw sample values to encoded differential records. This parameter change enables more efficient memory utilization, extending the monitoring duration achievable with a given memory size and cost constraint.
4Loss of information
If data is stored at every sampling moment, then the data completeness is improved, but the memory efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges successive temperature samples into single data records when temperature stability is detected. This merging maintains data completeness by preserving temperature information within acceptable ranges while improving memory efficiency by storing only one record per stable period rather than individual samples.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies selective storage by storing data only when temperature changes exceed a threshold. This partial action approach maintains data completeness for significant events while improving memory efficiency by omitting redundant storage of stable temperature readings.
Data Source
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AI summary
The application discloses a data logger (1) for logging values of a physical environment parameter (T) as a function of time (t). The application also discloses a method for use in the data logger (1) for sampling and encoding successive sample values. The data logger (1) comprises a sampling subsystem (2), which acquires sample values (21) of the physical environment parameter (T) at sampling moments which are separated by sample intervals (INT1, INT2). An encoding subsystem (3) defines data records representing groups of one sample value (21) or a number of successive sample values (21) with variations which meet a first stability criterion. Each data record comprises first identifiable bits (b10-b00) defining a representative value (Trep) for the samples values (21) of the corresponding group and a second identifiable bits (b15-b12) indicating the number of samples in the corresponding group and a flag bit (b11) indicating the use of either the first or second interval length. A memory subsystem (4) for storing the sequence of defined data records into a memory (7). The application further discloses a reading device (40) which reads the data records from the data logger (1). The logged data can be made visible as a graph or table on a display of the reading device (40). Preferably the reading device is a NFC enabled Smartphone in which an App can be loaded for providing the read and display function. This App can be made available for downloading on a server (41) which can be connected to the Smartphone via a communication network, such as e.g. the internet.